Dunlop Motorcycle Europe has strengthened its position in the urban mobility sector by launching the ScootSmart 2, a new all-season scooter tyre engineered to enhance grip, handling and durability under a variety of city riding conditions. The tyre is designed for riders who depend on their scooters for daily transportation, from short commutes to longer journeys through metropolitan areas.

Building on the original ScootSmart introduced in 2012, which gained a strong reputation among scooterists for reliable all-weather performance and longevity, the second-generation model addresses the evolving needs of modern riders. Dunlop has incorporated its sport touring expertise into the ScootSmart 2, blending advanced motorcycle tyre technologies with a design specifically tailored for scooters. The tyre features a new high silica compound that improves traction across a wide range of temperatures and road surfaces, including wet and dry conditions, while preserving mileage performance.

An all-new tread pattern distinguishes the front and rear tyres for specific handling benefits. The front tyre includes a jagged centre groove to cut through surface water and reduce braking distances, with main grooves oriented for effective water dispersion at intermediate speeds. Secondary grooves and shoulder tread elements boost grip on slippery surfaces. At the rear, a continuous tread centre supports wear resistance and dry-road traction, while the groove layout maintains wet-weather grip. Dunlop’s internal testing indicates a 10 percent reduction in wet braking distance compared to the previous version, marking a clear safety improvement.

ScootSmart 2 offers extensive size coverage for a broad range of scooters, from lightweight city models and retro designs to high-end performance maxi scooters. The lineup will ultimately include 75 sizes covering rim diameters from 10 to 16 inches, accounting for roughly 84 percent of the scooter market. Availability across Europe begins in the second quarter of 2026, with the full range arriving in the fourth quarter of that year.

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “With the introduction of ScootSmart 2, Dunlop builds on the proven success of ScootSmart to deliver a clear step forward in performance for today’s scooter riders. The tyre offers stable and well-balanced handling, even for the most demanding riders with a more spirited riding style. Urban riding is full of contrasts. ScootSmart 2 is designed to handle all of them, and our broader launch campaign brings that idea to life in a way that feels dynamic, with playful assets that resonate with the needs of riders in cities, always ready to stop and go.”

Dmitri Talboom, Product Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “In developing ScootSmart 2, we set out to build on a product that already had a very strong reputation among scooter riders across Europe. We have combined expertise from our sport touring products with a design tailored to optimise urban riding, and have achieved marked improvements in wet grip, braking and handling. The end result is a tyre that gives supreme all-round performance while also delivering the versatility that is essential for everyday use across sporty, classic, high-end performance and commuter scooters.”

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Kuraray America, Inc. marked National STEM Day on 8 November by spotlighting a community educational event that brought together 15 of its volunteers and students from the Houston Japanese Supplementary School at San Jacinto College for a day of hands-on exploration and discovery.

Participants engaged in activities illustrating how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) converge in chemical manufacturing. Experiments with superabsorbent polymer beads explored chemistry and material properties, while a tour of the college’s facilities introduced industrial equipment. Students also learned about water filtration and distillation processes and how mathematical concepts underpin scientific and engineering applications.

One student showed particular interest in the distillation tower, linking the experience to the Kuraray Group’s contributions to everyday life and its mission of achieving for people and the planet what no one else can. The event also benefited KAI volunteers, who shared technical knowledge, exchanged perspectives and learned alongside potential future scientists and engineers.

Kuraray America thanked Reiko Fuwa and Tomohiro Tani for coordinating the visit, Hans Vandommele for sharing his expertise and all 15 KAI volunteers. The company also expressed appreciation to San Jacinto College for facility access and to the Houston Japanese Supplementary School students for their curiosity, enthusiasm and thoughtful questions.

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Liberty Tire Recycling attended the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, held from 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The automotive aftermarket event, one of the industry's largest, drew over 160,000 attendees from the automotive, tyre and transportation sectors to review new products, technologies and business opportunities.

The Lakin Tire brand, a consistent SEMA exhibitor, once again used the show to reinforce industry relationships and present Liberty's tyre collection, recycling and sustainable resource management capabilities. Personnel from Grade/Used Tires, Commercial Truck Tires, Metals, Recycling and Collection, together with corporate and regional leadership, met customers, suppliers and industry professionals from around the world.

The booth received existing and prospective customers from numerous tyre and automotive segments during the week. Costco Wholesale Corporate Office, United Tires and UTU Wholesale were among the organisations that stopped by to examine Liberty Tire's products, services and nationwide reach. The company viewed the event as an effective forum for monitoring emerging market trends and demonstrating its position in recycling and sustainability, alongside its focus on innovation, workforce development and circular economy principles.

A memorable moment came when a high school shop teacher and students, attending through a special educator programme, toured the booth to learn about tyre recycling and industry operations. Liberty team members provided industry insights, outlined career pathways and acknowledged educators' contribution to developing future skilled trades professionals, supplying tyre inflation gauges for classroom use.

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Laufenn, Hankook's associate brand, earned a ‘Good’ ratingwith an overall score of 2.2 for its G Fit 4S in the Auto Bild Allrad all-season SUV tyre test published on 8 October 2026 (issue 41). The tyre competed credibly against 11 rivals from established premium marques, finishing competitively in a 12-strong field.

Wet handling proved a particular strength, with the G Fit 4S collecting the second-highest rating shared with other models. Aquaplaning resistance also impressed, as the tyre held its line until stability began to fade at roughly 100 kmph (62 mph). In snow, it recorded the third-shortest braking distance, matching two other contenders.

Testing spanned snow, wet and dry disciplines, each weighted equally in the final ranking, with a third-generation MINI Countryman serving as the test vehicle. Snow assessments were carried out in New Zealand, while European venues hosted the wet and dry evaluations. The jury's conclusion underscored Laufenn's value-focused positioning, finding the G Fit 4S a solid option for cost-conscious buyers.

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Tyres Europe has underscored that tyres qualify as fully recyclable under ISO 22628:2002 and UN Regulation No. 133, describing the established methodology as a robust foundation for assessing tyre recyclability. The organisation recently set out its position on the matter.

The distinction between recyclability and actual recycling rates is central to the group's argument. Recyclability refers to the technical potential of a product and its materials to be recycled, while the real rate hinges on treatment capacity and demand for secondary raw materials. Regulatory frameworks should therefore separate the two concepts clearly and align with an internationally recognised standard.

Tyres consist of rubber compounds, chemical additives and reinforcing textile and steel cords, and at end of life they are separated into rubber, textile and steel fractions, all of which existing mechanical or chemical routes can recycle. Mechanical processing yields rubber granules and powders usable as secondary raw materials across many applications, recovered textiles can be further processed and valorised, and cleaned recovered steel can re-enter metal recycling and steelmaking.

Tyres Europe pledged continued cooperation with policymakers and value-chain partners to strengthen circularity and maximise recovery of valuable tyre materials in Europe, with the full paper available on its website.

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